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Blackhorn 209 Loads - .50 Traditions VORTEK & Thompson/Center Rifles

On this page you'll find Blackhorn 209 loads and ballistics data for these two popular .50 caliber modern No. 209 primer ignition in-line rifles. Load data for these models with other powders can be found on a separate page. When comparing bullet velocities of any two or more rifles, loaded with the same powder...charge...and projectile, always take into account the length of the actual "working bore". Many rifles are sold as a "26 inch"..."28 inch"...or whatever length barreled rifle. However due to the length of some breech plugs these days, the actual working bore will be much shorter. And that difference can affect velocities by 30...40...50 f.p.s. - Toby Bridges, North American Muzzleloader Hunting_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Note: The VORTEK amd VORTEK Ultra Light barrels ar ported at the muzzle, to help tame recoil. However, the 8 holes around the last 1/2 to 3/4-inch of the barrel also decelerate the pressure of the burning powder charge, reducing the "Working Bore" to 26 1/2 or 26 1/4 inches. The VORTEK StikerFire barrel is not ported, adding 10 to 15 f.p.s. to these muzzle velocities.Harvester Muzzleloading 260-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .220 b.c.Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy

OTHER BULLETS TO BE ADDED......______________________________________________________________________________________________________

.50 Caliber Traditions VORTEK Ultra Light LDR - With Blackhorn 209...

Barrel Length: 30"Working Bore:
28 1/2"Land-to-Land: 501"Groove-to-Groove: .511"Rate of Twist: 1 Turn-in-28"For Ignition: Federal 209ANote: There are two 200 yard groups shown on the target at left. Both were shot with the .50 VORTEK Ultra Light LDR...a 110-grain charge of Blackhorn 209...and the same all-brass 275-grain Lehigh D.O.A./Knight Bloodline bullet. Well, almost the same bullet. This bullet is offered as a big hollow-point only. To test the benefits of a sleek spire-point tip, NORTH AMERICAN MUZZLELOADER HUNTING installed a polymer tip in the bullet. At 100 yards, both bullets grouped in basically the same place - with three shots with each the hollow-point and the spire-point printing all six shots inside of 1 3/4 inches. At 200 yards...the hollow point dropped an average of 14 1/2 inches...the same bullet with the polymer tip installed dropped an average of 9.5 inches. For the complete "Test Report" - Click Here Lehigh/Knight 275-grain .458" Dia. All-Brass Hollow-Point - .195 b.c. (Estimated)Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy110 gr. 2,038 f.p.s./2,538 f.p.e. 1,509 f.p.s./1,389 f.p.e. 1,331 f.p.s./1,082 f.p.e.

Lehigh/Knight 284-grain .458" Dia. All-Brass Hollow-Point (With Poly Spire-Point Tip) - .230 b.c. (Estimated)Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy110 gr. 2,031 f.p.s./2,599 f.p.e. 1,571 f.p.s./1,556 f.p.e. 1,402 f.p.s./1,238 f.p.e.Note: To install the polymer tip to this bullet required filling the hollow-point cavity half full of a clear rubber-like sealant, then the tip was inserted and centered. The bullets were then allowed to set overnight, giving the sealant time to set up. With the tip and sealant added, the finished bullets weighed in right at 284 grains.

.50 Thompson/Center Arms Triumph - With Blackhorn 209...

Barrel Length: 28"Working Bore: 26" Land-to-Land: .500"Groove-to-Groove: .510"Rate of Twist: 1 turn-in-28"Bullet: Hornady For Ignition: CCI 209MNote: The Triumph is sold as a 28-inch barreled muzleloader. That's an outside measurement, from the muzzle to the rear of the Speed Breech XT breech plug. This is an exceptionally long breech plug, which takes up several inches of the bore, reducing the "Working Bore" to 26". The muzzle also features an enlarged recess for easier starting and loading of saboted bullets. The actual bore begins a little more than a half-inch from the muzzle - and this allows some deceleration as well. While we can measure the bore from the muzzle to the face of the breech plug, it's not only possible, but probable, that the recessed muzzle detracts a little from the velocities the same load produces in a full 26" "Working Bore". Toby Bridges Harvester Muzzleloading 260-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" - .220 b.c. - Black .50x.45 "Crush Rib Sabot"Load Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy

Barrel Length: 28"Working Bore: 27 1/4"Land-to-Land: .500"Groove-to-Groove: .510"Rate of Twist: 1 turn-in-28"Ignition: CCI 209MNote: These two "28-inch barreled" models are breeched with T/C's much shorter standard breech plug, which is only about half the length of the Speed Breech XT plug used in the Triumph. The rifles still feature the "QLA" recessed muzzle, which likely does allow for some deceleration within that last inch of the bore. However, it is not enough to really affect velocites to any real degree. - Toby Bridges Thompson/Center 250-grain "Shock Wave" - .210 b.c. - Black .50x.45 Muzzleload Magnum SabotLoad Muzzle Velocity/Muzzle Energy 100-Yard Velocity/Energy 200-Yard Velocity/Energy

120-Grain Charges Will Be Shot With These Two Bullets In Early Fall 2012Note: Hornady Manufacturing, of Grand Island, NE is the manufacturer of the saboted 250- and 300-gran SST polymer tipped muzzleloader bullet. The Thompson/Center Shock Wave is the same exact bullet. In fact, so is the Traditions Smackdown SST. The only real difference between any of these bullets will be the color of the polymer tip...and maybe the sabot used. If you load...shoot...and sight with one, and are forced to load and hunt with one of the other bullets, the slight difference in sabot could likely change point of impact. However, out of most .50 caliber primer ignition rifles loaded with the same amount of Blackhorn 209, the difference would be slight. - Toby Bridges, North American Muzzleloader Hunting

This Page Of Loads & Load Data Will Continue To Be Expanded As Time Permits

Blackhorn 209 continues to grow in popularity, and the bullets featured here on this page are not likely to be made obsolete anytime within the foreseeable future. We will continue to expand our coverage of loads for the rifle models above, especially with other saboted bullets. Loose grain Triple Seven loads for some of these models can be found at the following link...http://www.namlhunt.com/modernmldata2.html______________________________________________________________________________________________________